Crime On The Roads

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30847, 4 September 1965, Page 14

Crime On The Roads

Sir,—The criminal law is no more prepared to accept the defence of inevitable accident in road traffic cases than it does in other fields of the law. To say, therefore, that certain acts are not criminal because they sometimes arise out of accepted risks is illogical. if only for the reason that one may not consent to death. The criminal law sets a standard, and punishes the offender who falls below that standard according to his state of mind. This standard changes with the requirements of society and it is this with which the modern lawyer and legislator are concerned when determining the responsibility of the individual before the law, a consideration which in its turn leads to certain theories of crime prevention and punishment. To ignore this is to negate the whole purpose of the criminal law.—Yours, etc., R. E. L. GREAVES. September 3, 1965.

Sir, —Can “Adam” say what causes hooligan behaviour or how it might be avoided? The pedestrian is not prepared, physically, to take risks at every street crossing where lack of consideration, care and courtesy, is displayed even on marked comers by many more drivers than are noted bv inspectors in uniform. Their backs are too often turned to flagrant driving abuses. Some drivers like to display their prowess by “playing chicken” with aging or infirm citizens. —Yours, etc., RESPONSIBILITY AND ISSUE. September 3, 1965.